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British Army in Mesopotamia, protection from insects, WW1
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British Army in Mesopotamia, protection from insects, WW1
A British officer serving in Mesopotamia finds a solution to the fly problem while writing a letter. Date: 1916
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Media ID 14140921
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
Correspondence Correspondent Flies Iraq Letter Letters Mesopotamia Mosquito Nets Protection
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In this evocative black-and-white photograph, a British officer, seated at a makeshift desk in the Middle Eastern campaign during World War I, pens a letter home with unyielding determination. The year is 1916, and the officer, clad in full military regalia, is stationed in the sweltering heat of Mesopotamia, now modern-day Iraq. The harsh, arid landscape is dotted with palm trees, and the officer's tent, pitched nearby, is a testament to the soldiers' tenacity in the face of adversity. However, the officer's focus is not solely on the task at hand. A mosquito net, draped over his desk, serves as a reminder of the relentless insects that plague the region. The flies, mosquitoes, and other insects pose a significant threat not only to the soldiers' comfort but also to their health, spreading diseases such as malaria and dysentery. The officer's ingenious solution to the insect problem is evident in the photograph. He has fashioned a makeshift fly swatter from a piece of cardboard and a length of string, a testament to the resourcefulness and ingenuity of the soldiers in the field. The netting, which covers not only his desk but also his head and shoulders, is a vital layer of protection against the insects. The officer's correspondence is a lifeline to the world he has left behind, a connection to the familiarity and comfort of home. The letters he writes and receives are a reminder of the human spirit's resilience and the importance of communication, even in the most challenging of circumstances. This poignant image encapsulates the hardships and triumphs of the British soldiers in Mesopotamia during World War I, a time when the simple act of writing a letter could offer both solace and survival.
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